Small business operators will be exempt from fees for broadcasting World Cup 2014 football matches between June 12 and July 13.
Small street vendors will be exempt from paying World Cup broadcasting fees this year. Some 45 million viewers watched the 2010 World Cup, benefiting food and beverage sales as well as convenience stores and shops. PHONGTHAI WATTANAVANIVUT
Small street vendors selling noodles, somtam and khao tom (boiled rice with different dishes) can broadcast World Cup matches without paying broadcasting fees, said RS Plc, the broadcast rights holder of the 2014 World Cup in Thailand.
RS assigned Thai Copyright Collection Co (TCC), its subsidiary, to collect fees from business operators broadcasting World Cup football matches for commercial purposes. Its purview includes businesses, restaurants, food courts, karaoke shops, electrical appliance shops, nightclubs, pubs, beer gardens, clubhouses, hotels and apartments.
Those who violate its broadcast rights will be fined.
"Business operators required to pay World Cup broadcast fees should consult with us in advance about the the broadcast procedure and fee amount," said TCC director Sutthisak Prasartkarukarn.
Cable TV operators and websites are not allowed to broadcast World Cup matches to the public. Any unauthorised use will be fined except for home use.
The company's legal and monitoring team will have over 300 people nationwide checking on violations of its broadcast rights starting from May 1. Broadcasting fees are considered on a case-by-case basis, starting from 30,000 baht for the one-month tournament.
Authorised businesses must display the permission document in a visible place for the TCC team to verify it in coordination with the police to minimise viewing disturbances and business interruptions.
"Thais understand broadcast licences better now than during the previous World Cup four years ago. We expect to see more than 10,000 business operators interested in applying for World Cup broadcast permission," said Mr Sutthisak.
Fifa will be sending its representatives to monitor the World Cup broadcast in Thailand and see how broadcasting permission is granted.
The National Food Institute said 45 million viewers watched matches during the 2010 World Cup, and this benefited food and beverage sales as well as convenience stores and shops, which were open around the clock.
In another development at RS, the company is moving ahead with plans to strengthen its satellite TV business.
It put Channel 2, formerly Star Max, on the channel number 2 of every satellite platform including PSI, which holds a 50% market share among households using satellite TV set-top boxes.
The feedback has been very positive as the channel is easily accessed by viewers.
Channel 2 intends to be No.1 in the satellite TV segment and generate 200 million baht of profit this year, up 60% from last year.
Shares of RS closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 8.40 baht, unchanged, in trade worth 18.5 million baht.